As soon as Draco said this, he rushed through the tent and Apparated away. Reaching the Hogwarts gates, he undid all the incantations and then redid them before making his way to the castle. Not paying attention to any of the students who were walking the grounds, Draco entered through the Entrance doors and started up the stairs.

“Draco,” a voice called behind him.

“Headmaster,” he replied as he turned around and nodded his head.

“Your visit with Miss Weasley, how was it?” she questioned as she started ascending the stairs with Draco.

“Not as well as expected,” he answered through clenched teeth, trying to keep his composure.

“Ah…in time things will be better,” McGonagall said as she placed a hand on his shoulder. “See you at dinner.”

Without waiting for a response, McGonagall continued to move up the stairs. Draco watched her move up another staircase before he began mumbling his curse words. As his mumbling continued and his anger increased, Draco continued making his way up the stairs to Bolton’s classroom.

Quicker than expected, Draco arrived at Bolton’s classroom, the door shut. Without knocking, he walked into the classroom, interrupting the classroom silence as the door slammed against the stone wall. He began walking down the aisle of tables, all heads turning to him.

Bolton looked up, surprised to see Draco in front of him. “Draco, what are you doing here?”

“I need to speak with you,” he answered with his teeth clenched and his fists buried into his robes.

Bolton looked at him, concern filling his face and eyes. He then stood up and moved around his desk, in front of Draco. “Okay, class, that’s all for today. We’ll catch up next class. Enjoy the rest of your day!”

Chairs began moving across the stone ground as the students whispered amongst each other. Some of them tried to linger to hear what Draco had to say, but he easily caught on to what they were doing. “You bloody stragglers better hurry out of here or you all will be getting a months’ worth of detention!”

As the threat escaped Draco’s mouth, the students that were taking their time started to rush about. Bolton turned and looked at Draco. “Don’t threaten my students like that.”

“They’re not only your students, Lewin. And if you’d like, I could just begin talking and have them hear. I’m sure your secret would be all over within minutes.”

As the last student stepped over the threshold of the classroom, Draco had the door slam shut. He then soundproofed the room so no bystander could listen. Then he turned and looked at Bolton malevolently.

“I assume this is about Ginny?” Bolton questioned as he slipped a piece of paper to the side.

“Congratulations, you got something right for once.”

“What is going on now, Draco?"

“Your plan is never going to work. I told you that before, remember? It doesn’t matter how hard I try! She doesn’t want anything to do with it, or me for that matter!”

Bolton looked at Draco and sighed. “She’s probably just mad at you seeing as you were part of the reason for her ending up with Charlie. Have you thought about that?”

“Of course I’ve bloody thought about that! Do you take me for a fool?”

“No, I don’t, Draco,” Bolton said as he paused and took a drink out of a goblet.

Draco paced back and forth as he said, “What am I supposed to do with her when she’s off in Romania and snogging some guy? How am I supposed to take it that she’s there with him every single day doing Merlin knows what? I didn’t sign up for this portion!” Bolton chuckled causing Draco to shout, “What is so funny?!”

Bolton stopped laughing and said with a smile, “You’re jealous. And, if I’m not mistaken, smitten.”

Draco guffawed as he was taken aback. His jaw hung slightly as his eyes grew wide. He continued to stare at Bolton as Bolton stared back, his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners from smiling.

“That’s preposterous,” Draco said.

“How could you not feel like that, Draco? She’s absolutely wonderful, is she not?”

“If you like pain in the arses,” he mumbled.

“I would have to say that that’s just what you like.”

“You’re insane, do you know that? Bloody insane,” Draco responded as he shook his head.

“You may think whatever you’d like, but I have to say, I didn’t think my plan would work so well.”

“Piss off and eat hippogriff dung,” Draco said before exiting the room.

As Draco exited Bolton’s classroom, he began descending the stairs quickly. Staircase after staircase he went until he reached the main floor. Moving past the Great Hall, Draco went straight for his classroom and then up the stairs to his bedroom. Without closing the door, he grabbed a handful of floo powder and bellowed, “Longhorn Dragon Reservation!”

Heat surrounded Draco as he stepped out of the fireplace. His stomach churned slightly as an after effect of the spinning. He looked around the tent and noticed that it was the same one where he had argued with Ginny earlier. Seeing no one, he walked out of the tent and looked around the area for someone.

Spotting a figure walking closer, Draco began thinking of his name. “Bochinsky?” he questioned as he snapped his fingers.

The figure turned its head and answered, “Can I help you?”

“Draco Malfoy,” he answered as he took a step toward Alin, holding out his hand. “I believe we had a run un earlier.”

“Ah, yes. I apologize for earlier,” Alin said as he shook Draco’s hand.

“Please don’t,” Draco responded as he held up his hand to stop Alin from continuing. “I shouldn’t have reacted as I did, I apologize for that. It was uncalled for.”

“Understandable. What can I help you with?”

“I was wondering if you knew where Ginny was. Again, I acted in a way I should’t have and would like to fix things if I can.”

Alin looked at Draco, his eyes scrutinizing the gray ones before him. After a short moment, he said, “Ginny said she wasn’t feeling good shortly after you left. Charlie and I let her go home early. I was about to go over there though if you wanted to go with me.”

“That’d be great, thank you,” Draco said as he nodded his head slightly. Alin nodded at him in return as they walked back into the tent. “Traveling by flood powder okay? I’m not much into Apparating.”

“Anyway is fine,” he reassured.

“Thank you. Shall I go first?”

“If you think it best,” Draco replied as a sigh of relief escaped him. “Actually, that may be better. You see, her family doesn’t know we’re seeing each other, and I highly doubt she’ll like me very much if I screwed that up as well.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if you two just told them?” Alin questioned inquisitively.

“I plan on talking to hr about everything, including that, tonight. If she’ll let me that is.”

Alin nodded once again before taking a handful of floo powder and stepping into the fireplace. “Fireside Weasley house,” he shouted as he threw down the powder.

Draco turned his head away from the bright green flames. Once the flames died down to the embers, he waiting a few minutes before he grabbed himself a handful of powder and stepped in the fireplace. He closed his eyes and shouted the same thing Alin did and was spinning with no control. Finally, the spinning stopped and his feet landed firmly on the grate, causing a startled scream to fill the room.

“What are you doing here?” Ginny asked him as he got his bearings and stepped out of the small fireplace. “You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“I came to talk to you,” he responded as he took a step towards her.

She held up her hand, pausing his movements. “I think you’ve said all you’ve needed to say. Besides, why would you risk coming here when we said we weren’t going to share this with either of our families?”

“Because I do really need to talk to you. I’m sorry about everything I said earlier. I was completely out of line and didn’t mean any of it.”

“Draco Malfoy apologizing? I must’ve died,” she said sarcastically. She moved towards the sink and leaned against the counter, folding her arms.

He sighed and ran a hand through his blonde hair. Looking up at her slightly, he mumbled, “I probably shouldn’t say this….” He let out another sigh and said, “You drive me absolutely crazy.”

“Glad the feelings are mutual,” she cut across him spitefully.

“Can you just shut up and listen without interrupting me for once? I understand it’s your favorite thing to do, but honestly,” he exasperatedly said, his voice raised slightly. She opened her mouth to say something, but he shot across her and pleaded, “Please?”

Looking at him questioningly, her eyebrow raised and her brown eyes searching his. Her shoulders relaxed and she let out a soft sigh in concession.

“Thank you,” he responded as he squeezed her arms slightly. She nodded her head slightly and he released his grip on her. “Now, when I say you drive me absolutely crazy, I’m not necessarily meaning it to be rude. That time, yes, I meant it to be somewhat mean. Although I do, I absolutely love it. Does that make any sense? Probably not because it sounds bloody mental in my head.”

“Can you slow down a bit?” Ginny questioned, chuckling slightly. “Just say what you want.”

“I’m sorry for saying what I did to you. It’s just you make me so crazy and I can’t help myself. I just say things when I’m angry and I can’t myself.

“What I’m trying to say, Ginny, is that I love that you drive me crazy. In that moment I don’t, but then I look back at it and can’t help but love it. And I know it’s been a short few months, but I just need to say it….”

He looked at her and swallowed hard. She stared at him and without him saying anything, he kissed her hard. His arms wrapped around her body as he started to glide his mouth against hers. Her eyes grew wide before they closed slowly and her fingers ran through his hair. She let out a soft sigh as she loved the feeling that was coursing through her body as they continued to kiss.

Coming to her senses, she pulled away quickly and slapped him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Do you think just saying a few simple words and kissing me can fix everything?”

Without answering again, he moved in and kissed her, gentler this time as he cupped her face. She tried to pull away, but then gave in as he ran his tongue along her lip.

As she gave in, he slid his hands down her arms gently, letting his fingertips graze her soft skin. He reached her hands and moved them so they wrapped around his neck. When her hands clasped together, Draco wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her into him closely as he kissed her passionately.

His hands ran up her back, his fingertips playing with the ends of her hair. She moved onto her tiptoes as she bit his lip sightly, whispering, “Make love to me, Draco.”

Draco pulled away from her and looked into her eyes, searching for something. She smiled encouragingly, and he bent down and kissed her, his hands playing with her hair. he then pulled away and leaned his head against hers, letting out a soft sigh. Moving his hands to her face, he ran his thumbs along her jaw slowly.

She bit down on her lip as she looked up at him, wondering what he was thinking. Running her hands up and down his arms, she said, “What are you thinking?”

He let out another soft sigh and opened his eyes. “How tempting it is.”

“Well, what are we waiting for?” she chuckled as she started pushing him towards her bedroom. He started laughing softly as he wrapped his arms around her back, letting his hands rest on the small of her back.

Resting his head at the side of her neck, he kissed it softly and stopped his body so she couldn’t move him anymore. She let out a rough sigh and placed her hands on his chest. “Why don’t you want me?”

“It’s killing me not taking you up on your offer,” he said and sighed again.

“Take it,” she pleaded.

“We can’t, Ginny,” Draco said softly as he kissed her head.

She then removed her hands from his chest and started to walk away. Draco grabbed her arm to stop her, but she looked at him, her eyes squinted. “Don’t touch me.”

Pulling her arm out of his grasp, she walked away and slammed her door. Draco let out an exasperated sigh, running his hands over his face. He leaned his head back and then started for her bedroom.

“Come on, Ginny, don’t do this.” When she didn’t respond, he placed both hands on either side of the door. “You said earlier that you wanted me to clean up my messes and battle my own battles, and I’m doing just that. If we were to do what we want it’d be a mistake, and I think you know that.”

Draco paused, waiting to hear an answer from her. When there was no response, he continued, “I just want you to be happy. Ginny…you’re crazy to think that I don’t want you. Of course I want you. The past month hasn’t been easy for me with you here. I’ve missed you, and I can never stop thinking about you.

“I want to be with you, Ginny. I honestly mean that, and I…,” he paused, closed his eyes and whispered, “I love you.”

Without a warning, Ginny’s door opened, revealing Ginny with a slight smirk on her face and arms crossed. Draco stepped back, his eyes growing wide with shock. He recomposed himself quickly and stayed quiet, waiting for her to say something.

“What was that?” Ginny asked.

“You heard me,” he responded softly.

She nodded and placed her hands on his chest. Draco looked at her and said, “What do you think?”

“What I think is,” she started saying as her hands ran down his arms,” that you really are a new person, and I think I’d like to get to know you.”

“Oh yeah?” She nodded again in response, and he sad, “Well, I’d like to get to know you, the real Ginny.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I want to know the real you. The one who was in Hogwarts, the one without the alcohol taking over…. Do you think we can do this?”

Ginny went silent and looked away from Draco, biting her lip. Draco continued to look at her and then placed his hands on her arms, rubbing them gently. After a few moments, she finally looked up at Draco, her eyes glistening with tears. She bit her lip one more time, nodded her head and whispered, “I’d love to give it a try.”

Before Draco could respond, Ginny reached up and kissed him softly, wrapping her hand behind his neck.